We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

England, Once My England

by 'Les Paul's' (The Paul's)

/
1.
England, Once My England 05:16
lyrics
buy track
England, Once My England I was born here, but won’t die here That’s for sure I had to leave and get away I couldn’t take no more Discrimination Runs through the heart of the nation Where class and snobbery rules And the poor are treated like fools The Police are no where to be seen Sitting in an office watching computer screens Citizens are robbed, raped or killed Chances are slim of getting caught by ‘The Old Bill’ In that green and once pleasant land England, once my England What it’s become is hard to understand So hard to understand Alcoholism Runs through the nation like sexism ‘Drink to be sociable’ they say But they’re so cold anyway The rich bankers they rule the land They’ve got the politicians in the palms of their hands They’ll house you in the ghetto's, you’ve got no choice If you ain’t got money, you ain’t got a chance In that green and once pleasant land England, once my England What it’s become is hard to understand So hard to understand Pedophilia Rampant in towns, country and suburbia Abuse in every walk of life From Lands End to Fife In corridors of secret handshakes Learnt at Eton and Harrow and such places You’re accepted-in if you’re one of them If not, then to them you’re just phlegm You’re just phlegm In that green and once pleasant land England, once my England What it’s become is hard to understand So hard to understand Paul Robert Thomas
2.
I'm Not There 06:57
lyrics
buy track
I'm Not There The obituary read: "Killed by an overdose of press" Not that the mother in law could care less "Got what they deserved" is what they said she said I'm glad I'm out of it and far away I never did regret leaving If you catch me sleeping in the shade of the day Can you check if I am still breathing? But let the world burn, what do I care? I'm in another place, I'm not there Oh let the world burn, what do I care? I'm in another place, I'm not there I'm not, I'm not there, I’m not there Your complimentary words Ring like Big Ben inside my brain And although sometimes the truth is preferred You can tell me one or two white lies again I know I can do what I've done before Everyone says I can't come back And although I still don't have respect for the law We were friends one time down the track But let the world burn, what do I care? I'm in another place, I'm not there Let the world burn, what do I care? I'm in another place, I'm not there I'm not, I'm not there You can see by the lines that cross my face Time has taken its toil But I sure ain't ready for the hole, or the fire, I still got passion, I still got desire And though I might be far away, I'm still competing in the human race You’d better believe it The visionaries gone blind There's no-one to show you the way They'll help you believe in it if you pay Clowns are in re-hab re-programming their minds I guess there's a price to pay to be free This rolling stone's gathering some moss I'm just a shadow of the man I used to be Don't ask me why it's just because But let the world burn, what do I care? I'm in another place, I'm not there Let the world burn, what do I care? I'm in another place, I'm not there, no, no So I said but let the world burn, what do I care? I'm in another place, I'm not there Let the world burn, what do I care? I'm in another place, I'm not there I'm not there, I'm not there I'm not there no, I'm not there Paul Robert Thomas
3.
They Killed Her, Didn't They? 05:45
lyrics
buy track
They Killed Her, Didn’t They? The Family’s so glad she’s gone She’s flown up into the arms of The Son They never liked her friendly ways They despised her love of life ev’ry day But to us she seemed more real She seemed to care how we feel Some say ‘With just her smile she could heal’ Next to Mother Teresa she now kneels I wish things were as they were But, they killed her Didn’t they, didn’t they, didn’t they? They killed her Didn’t they? Although they hounded her day and night She never gave up her will to do what’s right She was like a rebel on the run But in the end ‘The Establishment’ won She showed us how to give and how to love It was like she came to us from above She was taken from us before her time Some say ‘They know who had done the crime’ I wish things could be as they were But, they killed her Didn’t they, didn’t they, didn’t they? They killed her Didn’t they? Yes there were times, I’m sure you know When she was down and she felt so low And she seemed to carry the world on her shoulders But she came through it wiser and a bit older She gave hope to the ill and the poor And to those who didn’t know what they were living for Even though at times she felt alone We all know that in our hearts was her home I wish things were as they were But, they killed her Didn’t they, didn’t they, didn’t they? They killed her Didn’t they? At the ceremony her boys were told not to cry Like it wasn’t their Mother who had died The Family devoid of any emotion But she was the focus of the country’s devotion Her cheating husband was now free To be with the woman with whom he always wanted to be The night when she went I felt so sad She was like the sister that I never had I wish things could be as they were But, they killed her Didn’t they, didn’t they, didn’t they? They killed her Didn’t they? Paul Robert Thomas
4.
London Town Is Bringing Me Down 04:48
lyrics
buy track
London Town Is Bringing Me Down London Town is bringing me down I can’t take much more of this town The sky is grey and full of rain I can’t breathe in this crowded train Surrounded by strangers wherever I go None of them I will ever know Even my house is not my home I have never felt so alone Through the grey clouds I can see the rising sun Shining for me, calling me on Must cut the roots of the tree Must get away, must break free I just can’t go on like this I don’t think there’s anything that I’ll miss London Town where I was born On one cold grey winter’s morn How you’ve changed before my eyes I think my love for you has died I must leave you now I must go Far from this cold land of rain and snow To a place of sun and golden sand To the ancient Promised Land Through the grey clouds I see the rising sun Shining for me, calling me on Must cut the roots of the tree Must get away, must break free I just can’t go on like this I don’t think there’s anything that I’ll miss I’ll start afresh I’ll start anew I’ll live a life meaningful and true I’ll Pick roses in the snow By the fallen walls of Jericho This is where it all began With just a woman and a man I’ll start my life all over again I’ll be far away from the hurt and pain Through the grey clouds I see the rising sun Shining for me, calling me on Through the grey clouds I see the rising sun Shining for me, calling me on Paul Robert Thomas
5.
Tommy, Tommy 05:45
lyrics
buy track
Tommy, Tommy Now Tommy wis about an O.A.P. who fought for his country and was left to die in povery, alone and unwanted. as a pensioner, an O.A.P. He’d fought in both wars, for you and me Lived in the city, in a cold damp home He lived the last days of his life, all alone He wouldn’t go out, of his home One night he was mugged, they broke his leg bone No-one came to see him, most days ‘cept the lady that brought him his one meal, on a plastic tray No No-one came to see him, most days ‘cept the lady that brought him his one meal, on a plastic tray Tommy, Tommy Once so proud of the land you loved Tommy, Tommy In the end you paid in blood In winter he’d wear layers of thick clothes In front of his one-bar-electric-fire he’d doze He’d turn it on for an hour each night He couldn’t afford the electric bill for that and the light His neighbours spoke words he couldn’t understand They’d come from some unknown foreign land He saw on the news prisoners getting three-course-meals You can imagine how that made Tommy feel They were living so much better than him He said they’d been rewarded for committing their sins Tommy was imprisoned for doing no wrong For Tommy it seemed that all hope had gone Tommy, Tommy Once so proud of the land you loved Tommy, Tommy In the end you paid in blood One day they found Tommy weeks after he’d died His war medals were laid out by his side He was buried in a paupers grave On the wooden cross it was wrote ‘Tommy, a soul that no-one would save’. Tommy, Tommy Once so proud of the land you loved Tommy, Tommy In the end you paid in blood Tommy, Tommy Once so proud of the land you loved Tommy, Tommy In the end you paid in blood In the end you paid in blood In the end you paid in blood In the end you paid in blood In the end you paid in blood Once so proud of the land you loved In the end you paid in blood Now Tommy was a pensioner, an O.A.P. He’d fought in both wars, for you and me Lived in the city, in a cold damp home He lived the last days of his life, all alone Tommy, Tommy Once so proud of the land you loved Tommy, Tommy In the end you paid in blood Paul Robert Thomas
6.
Camden Town 05:21
lyrics
buy track
Camden Town I saw you on that stall in Camden Town You were selling postcards of the past Your hair is grey though you got it coloured brown I guess inner beauty can never last You're a sixties child No longer running wild You been tamed with styled Nostalgia's made you fat What d'ya think about that? What d'ya think about that? Ah come on ya old punks and hippies in your designer shoes Come sing along to these Camden Town Blues Been thinkin' 'bout all the places that I've been And all those people and things that I've seen But my thoughts were never far away from home Camden on my mind wherever I roamed And your reminiscing of ‘Those were the days’ All got lost in the 60’s smoky haze Of wars and riots and hate and broken glass I’m so glad those crazy days didn’t last You're a sixties child No longer running wild You been tamed with style Nostalgia's made you fat What d'ya think about that? What d'ya think about that? Ah come on ya old punks and hippies in your designer shoes And sing along to these Camden Town Blues They've bought and forced the poor right outta town They made it a ghetto for the rich The new clubs they all belt out the newest sounds They've built designer flats on our sports pitch You're a sixties child No longer running wild You been tamed with style Nostalgia's made you fat What d'ya think about that? What d'ya think about that? Ah come on ya old punks and hippies in your designer shoes Sing along to these Camden Town Blues Ah come on ya old punks and hippies in your designer shoes Sing along to these Camden Town Blues Ah come on ya old punks and hippies in your designer shoes Sing along to these Camden Town Blues Sing along to these Camden Town Blues Sing along to these Camden Town Blues Paul Robert Thomas
7.
I Met Andy Warhol 03:29
lyrics
buy track
I Met Andy Warhol 'You Won’t believe who I bumped into the day before yesterday down by the Roundhouse! Well, who mate? I bumped into this geezer called 'Andy Warhol!' See David in tattered blue jeans Listening to Hawkwind’s ‘Silver Machine’ Selling hot dogs by The Round House In North London, thereabouts David in tattered blue jeans Looking like a skinny bean David in tattered blue jeans As unstable as gasoline One night Andy came to town He was the brightest star around They were opening up his show Would he come to the show no one could know? I spoke to Andy that time He looked so dandy and so fine On the street in seventy two On the arm of his boy with his eyes of blue From near Andy didn’t look big Grandma shouting ‘Pig, Pig, Pig’! Protesting with her Welsh talk Andy answered ‘No, you’ll find it’s called ‘Pork’! ‘No, you’ll find it’s called ‘Pork’! He gave me a look and a smile He sure did have class, he had style I’ll never forget his warm eyes When I later heard he’d gone, I cried I cried, yeah I cried, I cried Andy could have painted you On the pouch of a Kangaroo Or on the side of a bus Or on a plate of frozen moon dust Or on a plate of frozen moon dust David in tattered blue jeans Meeting stars of the silver screen David in tattered blue jeans Rubbing shoulders with kings and queens David in tattered blue jeans Looking like a skinny bean David in tattered blue jeans As unstable as gasoline As unstable as gasoline 'Andy Warhol he’s a legend you know! Paints all kinds of art you know You know like tins of soup ’n stuff like that'! I met Andy Warhol Paul Robert Thomas
8.
It Never Rains It Pours 06:53
lyrics
buy track
It Never Rains It Pours London Bridge has fallen down Fallen down, fallen down London Bridge has fallen down And there’s panic on the underground But you stay at home Where it’s safe and warm But you stay at home Where it’s safe and warm Don’t look so sad Don’t look so sad my little Holly It can’t be all that bad If you go out just take your brolly For outside of that door It never rains it pours It never rains it pours It never rains it pours Matchstick men are marching there Marching there, marching there Matchstick men are marching there And lost people out there everywhere But you can be found Here inside my heart Yes you can be found Here inside my heart Don’t look so sad Don’t look so sad my little Holly It can’t be all that bad If you go out just take your brolly For outside of that door It never rains it pours It never rains it pours It never rains it pours Rainbows shine right after rain After rain, after rain Rainbows shine right after rain It’s like laughter heard after pain And the world goes round And it can’t be stopped And the world goes round And it can’t be stopped Don’t look so sad Don’t look so sad my little Holly It can’t be all that bad If you go out just take your brolly For outside of that door It never rains it pours It never rains it pours Little girls and little boys Learn ’bout all life’s wond’rous joys If you look they’ll come to you And you’ll grow up straight and true You’re our light and hope Our future rests with you You’re our light and hope Our future rests with you Don’t look so sad Don’t look so sad my little Holly It can’t be all that bad If you go out just take your brolly For outside of that door It never rains it pours It never rains it pours It never rains it pours Paul Robert Thomas
9.
Knock Knock, Brighton Rocks 04:18
lyrics
buy track
Knock, Knock, Brighton Rocks It's eleven O'clock And this town's stone dead The streets are deserted Everyone's tucked up in their bed There's just one place I know Where no one ever sleeps It rocks all day and night It's non-stop 8 days a week Knock, knock, knock, yeah Brighton rocks, Brighton rocks, Brighton rocks All around the clock Brighton rocks, Brighton rocks I'm going round the clock With this Brighton rock Some may call it 'Kooks-Town' It's down by the sea Don't matter what you like It's the only place I feel free Gonna get my rocks off And lay down on the beach You can do what you want Eat some melons or a peach Knock, knock, knock Brighton rocks, Brighton rocks, Brighton rocks All around the clock Brighton rocks, Brighton rocks, All around the clock With this Brighton rock It's not so far away You should go on down too Say you only live once Everyone should try pastures new I don't wanna turn you From the straight and narrow There you'll rub shoulders with Boyz and girls from Eton and Harrow Knock, knock, knock. yeah Brighton rocks, Brighton rocks, Brighton rocks All around the clock Brighton rocks, Brighton rocks I'm going round the clock With this Brighton rock Don't care if you're black or white Or dress to the left or to the right No one cares where you're from or where you been You could be from Mars and coloured green Down there Brighton rocks It's the coolest funkiest scene Knock, knock, knock Brighton rocks, Brighton rocks, Brighton rocks All around the clock Brighton rocks, Brighton rocks I'm going round the clock With this Brighton rock Brighton rocks, Brighton rocks, Brighton rocks Brighton rocks Brighton rocks, Brighton rocks, Brighton rocks Brighton rocks Paul Robert Thomas
10.
This Dragon's On Fire 05:02
lyrics
buy track
This Dragon’s on Fire The green valleys lakes and harbours This is the land of my fathers Always was and will always be I was born here and here I’ll die And no matter how hard you try You’ll never take this land from me There’s silence in the valleys Unemployment in the alleys The choirs don’t sing their song Give us back all that you took Re-write the history books To tell what you did was wrong Watch out this dragon’s spitting fire Fire, fire This dragon’s spitting fire And the flames are getting higher From this dragon spitting fire You took our boys for your wars And they died there for your cause To feed your thirst for land and blood The ghosts of Abervan haunt me ike no others can Our future buried in the black mud You let us make you money I guess it’s kind of funny That whatever we have you take You came and stole our water You corrupted our daughters Our patience’s not a bottomless lake Watch out this dragon’s spitting fire Fire, fire This dragon’s spitting fire Flames are getting higher From this dragon spitting fire This dragon’s spitting fire On all those thieving liars Who’ve raped our land for so long They can’t rob our identity Through their legal obscenity They may think we’re weak but inside we’re strong The cheating Prince came to town Dressed in jewels and fancy crown On a day trip away from the smog His Mother gave him another name But everything remained the same They fed caviar to her Corgi dogs Can you understand the situation This is the re-birth of a nation That’s broken your shackles and chains Don’t believe in your ‘Hope or glory’ Just another of George’s stories His empty words are all that remain Watch out this dragon’s spitting fire Fire, fire This dragon’s spitting fire Flames are getting higher From this dragon spitting fire Paul Robert Thomas
11.
Who's Watching The Kids? 05:06
lyrics
buy track
Who's Watching the Kids? I'm trying to lift off the lid Coz can you tell me Can you tell me Just who's watching the kids? Smoke in the Holy Room So thick, It's getting hard to breathe He's turning in His tomb My God they're blaming Adam and Eve Their whispering secrets En masse Chanting favourite hymns Everyone's taking bets How soon we'll be asked to forgive their sins The Captain seems drunk Or just scared to open up the trunk They're trying to keep it all hid But can you tell me Can you tell me Can you tell me Can you tell me Just who's watching the kids? Criminals walk the streets In jeans and in smart shirts and ties Their cravings never cease I mean, I just can't understand why? They don't care who gets hurt They don't give it a second thought They'll never admit it They won't, if by chance they get caught That know that jail's no risk The judge will just slap them on the wrist Who's watching the kids? Who's watching the kids? Pop stars and DJ’s Do get caught, and end up in jail Some are happy, to find Adoring males, adoring males They're encountered in rooms Patiently getting groomed As they're taken control Manipulated, and segregated Fulfilling a role They don't feel danger Coz they're not strangers Chatting every day They're as sly as a fox Trapping them in a box Nothing gets in their way Don't let it happen to your kids Oh God forbid, God forbid God forbid, God forbid, God forbid Oh Lord protect our kids Who's watching the kids? Protect our kids Who's watching the kids? Protect our kids Who's watching the kids? Protect our kids Who's watching the kids? Who's watching the kids? Who's watching the kids? Who's watching the kids? Paul Robert Thomas
12.
Just Like Tin Soldiers 04:05
lyrics
buy track
JUST LIKE TIN SOLDIERS One fat Englishman on a mule Feeling so pompous, looking such a fool He'll ride that-poor-mule till it drops Showing he's master, don't matter the cost Tin soldiers all dressed in red Tin soldiers all dressed in red Melting in the sun, just like moulton lead In the sun like moulton lead He was born-to-lead, so they said Empire's built on sand, on backs of the dead They say charity starts at home Nick-knack-paddy-whack Give the dog a bone Tin soldiers all dressed in red Tin soldiers all dressed in red Melting in the sun, just like moulton lead In the sun like moulton lead So much sacrifice for a crown Written in the past Pages are all brown The sun never sets come what may The sun never sets so they say Georgie Porgie please Won't you come out to play Who's the King of the Castle Who's the dirty rascal Who's the dirty rascal Who's the King of the Castle Tin soldiers all dressed in red Tin soldiers all dressed in red Melting in the sun, just like moulton lead In the sun like moulton lead Tin soldiers, Tin soldiers, Tin soldiers Tin soldiers, Tin soldiers, Tin soldiers Paul Robert Thomas

about

Our ‘Les Paul’s’ (The Paul’s) no-holds-barred new album ‘England, Once My England’ has just been released! The album takes a realistic and critical look at contemporary England, a land I once loved but whenever I return there I feel like ‘a-stranger-in-a-strange-land’! It's all there - Discrimination/sexism/paedophilia/alcoholism/no police/snobbery/the poor/corrupted politicians/secret handshakes/Lady Di's death/O.A.P.’s/exploited Wales/Camden Town/Andy Warhol/British Empire/Royal Family & much more! cheers:)!

credits

released December 16, 2019

Music - Paul Odiase
Lyrics - Paul Robert Thomas

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

'Les Paul's' (The Paul's) image

'Les Paul's' (The Paul's) London, UK

'Les Paul's' (The Paul's) are a prolific dynamic song writing duo of ex-Londoners, singer songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, composer and actor Paul Odiase and song lyricist Paul Robert Thomas. Check them out at www.facebook.com/LesPaulsThePauls and their new interview at realmusichype.com/interview-with-les-pauls-the-pauls

Thank you! ... more

contact / help

Contact 'Les Paul's' (The Paul's)

Streaming and
Download help

Report this album or account

If you like 'Les Paul's' (The Paul's), you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Featuring Riley Pinkerton (aka The Rat Queen) from the theatrical NYC rockers, Castle Rat.
listen now